Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 20. 10. 2008

We have to protect agricultural land against growing building-up

The government at today´s meeting approved a proposal of the Ministry of Environment of an amendment of act on protection of agricultural land fund (ALF). “At first, agricultural land is a key natural resource without which no country gets along. Nowadays the landscape is usually often built up with various stock, trade or industrial premises. The today-approved novel will contribute to its significantly more effective protection”, the Minister of Environment Martin Bursík says. Besides protection of landscape against excessive spreading of built-up areas the novel will also help to protect land against pollution and erosion.

European Forest Week starts

Last but one October week is European Forest Week. Various actions promoting forests and the whole sector of forestry and increase awareness of their important contribution in the area of protection of the environment and development of economy and society in Europe are prepared for experts as well as wide public during the whole week. Lesy České republiky, s. p. participate in this event by organization of a wide range of presentation actions. However, the actions to European Forest Week do not take place only the next week when the action will culminate but they took place already from the end of August and they will continue also next weeks.

Europe despite various results aims at fulfillment Kjótó protocol, EEA says

The original fifteen of EU states which commits themselves to fulfill so called Kjótó protocol should reach together planned reduction of greenhouse gases by 8 % in 2008-2012. States of EU-12 (i.e. countries which joined the EU in 2004-2007, so also the Czech Republic) should not have a problem to fulfill their individual Kjótó engagements. It results from a report published by EEA yesterday. The report “Greenhouse gases in Europe 2008 – trends and further development” deals with amount of emissions of greenhouse gases in 1990 – 2006 and further development in 2008 – 2012, i.e. in the period of operation of so called Kjótó protocol.

Number of mad cows don´t increase in the CR

The last mad cow, i.e. BSE positive (bovinne spongiform encephalopathy) was found out in the CR at the end of 2001 before Christmas, the 19th of December 2007 in the region Teplice. Since the end of 2001 when BSE started to be tested in our country 1 325 305 pieces of cattle have been examined and of this number 28 positive animals have been found out. Decrease in occurrence of this malicious disease is recorded also in other members EU states. Therefore also EU considers moderation of rules for testing cattle for BSE. Till this time all healthy slaughter cattle older 30 months and necessary-slaughtered animals older 24 months have to be examined.